Library tries to narrow budget gap

Instead of closing branches, it may raise late-book fees and hire a collection agency.

January 6, 2007|By Nancy Imperiale, Sentinel Staff Writer

PORT ORANGE -- Overdue books would carry stiffer fines, a collection agency would go after library scofflaws and borrowing materials from other branches would be more difficult and expensive under proposals considered Friday by library advisers.

The Volusia County Library Advisory Board, which makes recommendations to the Volusia County Council, has been scrambling to figure out ways to make up for a $4 million shortfall council members created last fall to appease tax protesters.

An earlier proposal to shut down one or more of Volusia's 16 libraries was met with an outcry. Library leaders quickly backed down from the idea, but some community members are still worried it may pop up again.

"I ask this board to put this threat to bed once and for all," DeBary Public Library Association President Jerry Lombardi told the board Friday. "We come to this board to ask you to save not only our library, but to keep all libraries open. No one should have to fear the closing of their library." Library officials stopped short of making any promises, but they assured the audience of mostly librarians that they do not want to take that step.

"We have no plans to shut down libraries," said Lucinda Colee, Volusia's interim library services director. "Our goal is to reduce costs and increase revenues."

The new proposals have not been finalized, and library officials cautioned that they still have much discussion before they're ready to present recommendations to the Volusia County Council.

They said their goal is to not overburden library users.

"We're trying to make sure the charges are not high," said Eva Williams, chairwoman of the advisory board. "It's not the fault of library patrons that the tax rollback passed. But we have to address this. Next month we have to start planning our budget."

Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno said Friday that although he has not yet been presented with the proposals, they sound preferable to other drastic measures such as closing libraries, which he opposes.

"I'd rather do that [adopt higher fines and fees] than cut hours or services," Bruno said. "Maybe this is one way for the library system to be more efficient."

Some ideas discussed Friday:

Up the fee for a library card for nonresidents from $30 to $50.

Increase fines for overdue books from 15 cents to 25 cents per day for books, and to $1 a day for DVDs.

Reduce the time period for notification of overdue materials from 21 days to 7.

Contract with a collection agency to pursue those with overdue accounts. Brevard, Orange and Sarasota counties currently use collection agencies to hunt down such offenders.

Lower the number of audiovisual items patrons can check out from 20 to five per library card.

Remove online access to the interlibrary loan program. Patrons indiscriminately send such requests -- which average $30 per transaction in staff and mailing time -- and then often do not retrieve the items, staffers complain. Under the proposal, patrons would have to appear in person at a library branch to use the service.

Charge $5 for use of the interlibrary loan service. Currently the service is free.

Increase the processing fees for lost books and other items from $3 to $10. Patrons currently also pay replacement costs for the item. This would not change.

Increase the fee charged to groups that rent library meeting rooms. Currently nonprofits use rooms for free, while other groups are charged from $60 to $120, depending on the size of the room and the time of the meeting.

All total, the proposed changes would create $826,961 in additional revenue for libraries.

But that is still a far cry from the $4 million chunk being gobbled out of the budget.

"We've only partially closed that $4 million gap," said Mike Knievel, director of the Volusia County Community Services Department, which oversees the library system.

One library patron, who was unaware of the library's budget shortfall, said he wouldn't mind paying higher fees if it helped.

"But $4 million? That'll take a whole lot of fines to make up for that much," said Paul Pankey, 62, of Port Orange. "It would make me a lot more careful about what I check out from the library, I'll tell you that."

The advisory board plans to further discuss the proposals and perhaps reach a set of recommendations at its March 2 meeting.